‘The X-Files’ reopens to big ratings

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‘The X-Files’ reopens to big ratings

NEW YORK — “The truth is out there” and viewers still want to find it.

As the second episode of The X-Files reboot aired Monday night, many fans tuned in to see what was described as a stand alone episode, ‘Founders Mutation.’

The episode told the story of a scientist who suddenly commits suicide, and Mulder and Scully investigated what unseen force may have driven him to it. One reviewer said the second episode was more in line with the series of old.

“Founder’s Mutation” was a marked improvement over Sunday’s premiere, though it still didn’t represent apex X-Files. Almost bogged down a bit by its on-the-nose tie in to Mulder and Scully’s son, William, and the guilt they both felt over giving him up (especially now that Scully knows that she’s got alien in her), this episode was oddly conspiracy-adjacent.

The return of Fox’s “The X-Files” brought in impressive preliminary ratings for the rebooted cult classic on Sunday night.

The series, which was scheduled right after Fox’s broadcast of the NFC Championship game on Sunday night, brought in a preliminary viewership of 13.4 million viewers from 10:30 p.m to 11:00 p.m. ET.

It also brought in a healthy 5.1 rating with those in the prized advertising demographic of 18 to 49 years old, according to the early estimates.

These are preliminary numbers that will most likely change once the time zone-adjusted numbers are reported Tuesday.

Fox announced in March that the popular sci-fi drama that ran for nine seasons through the 1990s until 2002 would return for a six-episode event series.

The interest in the return of Mulder and Scully after a 14 year break was seen in the early TV numbers and on the Internet. Social media lit up on Sunday night as fans of the series were excited to see their two favorite FBI agents take on the paranormal once more.

The reviews of the first episode were mixed with critics, but some like Vanity Fair’s Joanna Robinson told viewers to be patient seeing that the series, which continues on Monday night, gets better.

“‘X-Files’ fans have waited a long, long time to see Fox Mulder and Dana Scully team up again to investigate paranormal activity. But ‘My Struggle,’ the premiere — was far from the show’s best work,” Robinson wrote. “But after some critical outcry, Fox released two additional episodes for review and the good news is, X-Files fans, it gets much better.”